Avoca Post Office in 1901

The Avoca post office opened 1 September 1854.

In 1901 at Federation the Postmaster-General’s Department (PMG), a department of the Australian government, was established. Its responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia.

On 1 January 1901 all postal and telegraphy services in Australia were taken over from the states and administered on a national basis.

The National Archives of Australia has photographs of post offices from that time including several of Avoca.

The photograph of the Avoca post office is one of 283 photographs in the series Post Offices in Victoria 1917-1930 in the collection of the State Libary of Victoria. It would seem this is another copy of the photo in the collection of the National Archives which has been dated to 1901.

Under the windows of the post office there are two children walking along.

On 19 January 1900 the Avoca Mail reported “Mr Dotter entered upon his duties as post and telegraph muster, and Receiver and Paymaster at the Avoca post office, yesterday.”

On 27 July 1900 the Avoca Mail reported “Mr E C Dotter, the local postmaster and Receiver and Paymaster, is now on his annual three weeks leave, and his place is being taken by Mr Mountjoy of the Relieving Staff.”

In 1902 Mr Dotter was in court concerning the issuing of Miners’ Rights at Avoca:

Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Tuesday 15 July 1902, page 7

MINING BOARD ELECTION CASE.

AN INDIGNANT OFFICIAL. AVOCA, Monday.

The charge brought by W. H. Morish against Thos. lmpey, jun., the successful candidate at the last mining board elec tion, of having given valuable consideration —to wit, miners’ rights— to induce electors to vote, was heard today before Mr. W. Leader, P.M. Mr. H. S. Barrett prosecuted, and Mr. E. S. Herring defended. Nearly twenty witnesses were examined, several of whom said they had requested Mr. Impey and other friends to obtain rights for them, but had personally paid for the rights. No evidence was submitted for the defence. Mr. Herring considering it un necessary, and the P.M. held that there was no evidence to warrant him committing defendant for trial. He said he would dismiss the case and would send the papers to the Attorney-General, so that the Crown could proceed if it thought fit. During the proceedings Mr. J. Thomas, assistant to the receiver and paymaster at Avoca, Mr. Dotter, was one of the witnesses, and could not produce the blocks of miners’ rights issued, as his superior officer would not allow them to go out of his control, he being alone responsible. A sub poena was then issued for the receiver and paymaster, who is also postmaster, but he refused to take notice of it, saying he could not leave the post office. Sir. Barrett then applied for a warrant to compel the attendance of Mr. Dotter, who was escorted to the court by the police. Mr. Dotter pointed out to the bench that he had been compelled to close the post office, thus inconveniencing the public by stopping the despatch of telegrams and delaying the making up of the mails. He added that he should have been summoned in time, and not in the middle of the case, so that he might have advised the department and had a relieving officer sent up. He would report to the department the indignity which had been placed upon him, and the prosecution would hear more about it.

Edward Charles Dotter (1861-1940) had been born in Benalla. In 1896 he was married at Avoca to Miss Edna Sweet, fifth daughter of Mr F. Sweet, of Avoca. They had three children, two of whom were born at Avoca.

The Victorian Government Gazette of February 23, 1900 announced

THE Lieutenant-Governor in Council has, by Órders made on the 8th day of February, 1900, been pleased to make the undermentioned appointments, viz. :-
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURER.
Receivers of Revenue and Paymasters, The persons named hereunder to be Receivers of Revenue and Paymasters at the places respectively specified, viz.:-

Avoca EDWARD C. DOTTER (Postmaster), vice E. B. Goode transferred.

In the Victorian Government Gazette of 16 February 1900 EDWARD CHARLES DOTTER (Postmaster), of Avoca, was appointed the Electoral Registrar for the Avoca Division of the Nelson Province, and for the Avoca and Homebush Divisions respectively of the Electoral District of Talbot and Avoca, vice Edmund B. Goode resigned.

Edward Dotter served as postmaster at Avoca until he was promoted to Portland in 1913. He was farewelled by the congregation of St John’s Church of England, the Avoca Golf Club and the Avoca Rifle Club. His wife was farewelled by the Avoca Ladies’ Benevolent Society.

Edward Dotter died at Kew, Melbourne aged 79. He was buried in the Avoca cemetery.